Criminals will be forced to pay for the costs of taking them to court as part of a criminal justice overhaul which includes a number of tough new measures.

The move will mean offenders will be billed for some of the cost of prosecuting them once they have been convicted.

According to the Justice Secretary Chris Grayling, who is unveiling the measures in the Criminal Justice and Courts Bill, the move will ease the burden on the taxpayer.

However, the track record of criminals paying fines is poor with the Magistrates’ Association saying that 50% of financial punishments handed out go unpaid.

Last year Government figures showed that the Ministry of Justice had to write off £75m of unpaid court fines in the year 2012/13 – a 20% increase on the previous year.

The change is one of a number of a number of punitive measures being introduce in the bill.

It will also see an end of cautions for serial offenders and serious offences such as child pornography and supplying Class A drugs.

In addition there is a provision to stop the automatic release of rapists and terrorists half way through their prison sentences.

Prisoners who go on the run will get an extra two years in jail.

Mr Grayling said: "My priority with these reforms is to deliver a tough package of sentencing measures to make sure offenders are punished properly and consistently, so that the law-abiding majority know that we're making the changes needed to keep them and their families safe.

"I also what to make sure we reduce the burden on hardworking taxpayers of the costs of running the courts.

"The public expects that serious and repeat criminals should be punished appropriately, and that those who are jailed should have to earn the right to be released early from prison."